Blimey. Didn't expect to win that for so little money

Ebay item 230335512672

 

yer mad, mad I tell ye

 

That's dirt cheap for a leggy one of those... and that's not leggy.

Nice.

 

The Older Gentleman wrote:

Wotcha.

Welcome to the world of four stroke singles . . . . now if you just add a
heavier flywheel, move the gear lever to t'other side, put the valves back
where they belong - beneath the head . . etc.

 

I tested one in the mid-1980s. For Superbike, it was. We took a BMW R65
Monolever, Kawasaki GT550, Yamaha XJ900F and an XBR500 for a long
weekend in Bordeaux.

I absolutely loved the XBR. Great little bike - solo, at least. I had
The Doctor with me, and adding a pillion sliced the top off the
performance curve (a bit like the Duke, really).

But we swapped bikes the whole time. Mostly I was on the GT550, which
impressed me a lot.

I can see some corrosion on the exhausts, and I expect to have to do
some cosmetic work, but I am hoping the engine is perfect.

 

SRX600 didn't have electric start, which always put me off them. The
question is: what do I do with this thing? Make it really, really nice?
Turn it into a sort of retro cafe racer? Just ride it?

 

Pity about the knackered gearbox ...

 

They are, too. A few came over here as grey imports. It would look
perfect with a little flyscreen on it.

 

Heh. I'm chasing another one for parts, actually, just in case.

 

Not my cup of tea... but I can see why some like them.

Indeed.

Should be if the miles are genuine and it's been looked after oil change
wise.

 

Looks nice, but what _where_ you thinking ....
Have fun with the vibes.

 

<jealous>

I've quite fancied one of those for a long time.

 

What vibes?

 

The one I rode a few years ago vibrated like a classic thumper, but maybe
it was not typical of the breed.

 

Fit a windscreen, bar muffs and prep it for some cold weather?

 

I am a bit surprised to see so little rust on it.

 

<looks>

It's about 500 quid more than I'd have paid for it.

 

Git. That's my transport for Chimay this year, that is.

 

The message <1iy4kcg.1g0bwyzokcwjkN%>
from (The Older Gentleman) contains these
words:

My transport for Chimay is the local bus. I prefer the 9% over the 7%,
not because it's stronger, but I like the flavour better.

Oh, as you were...

 

I had an XL500, pretty much the same motor, I think, and it wasn't vibey
at all. Would sit at 80 all day - well, until the fuel ran out, which
was rather too soon usually, especially on a Sunday afternoon in France.
Lovely bike, despite that.